Curtain Calls: Shotgun Players explores inner workings of theater in ‘Best Available’

Shotgun Players brings laughter and more than a few fears to local theater managers as it hits close to home with its current production “Best Available.”

Jonathan Spector’s play follows a fictional theater company busily looking to replace its disgraced artistic director. In addition to an eclectic assortment of candidates, Spector’s insightful play takes a deep dive into the theater company, revealing staff dissatisfaction, manipulations by the board of directors and the precarious house of cards upon which many nonprofit theaters exist.

Named for patrons who want the “best available” seats and for the desire of theaters to hire the “best available” leadership candidate, Spector takes the audience on a crazy ride, bordering on farce at times, through the inner workings of nonprofit on stage.

But you don’t have to be a theater insider to enjoy Spector’s comedy, especially given the playwright’s ability to fashion complex characters and director Jon Tracy’s astute command and skillful casting.

Austine De Los Santos, linda maria girón and Storm White as memorable characters share the challenges of working in the box office and dealing with patrons. They also play several other roles with ease.

Dave Maier and Steve Price portray the search firm helping the theater find candidates for the artistic director position, including a particularly startling (and terrifying) selection towards the end of the play. In addition to these distinctive roles, they also develop hilarious characters as the Romanian candidate (Maier) and an outlandish board member (Price).

Portraying the stressed-out managing director, Sarah Mitchell is a study in politics as she walks the tightrope between keeping the theater fiscally sound and pleasing staff and board members. Regina Morones uses her own considerable acting talents to portray the interim artistic director, who must deal with one surprise after another. Adding her own excellent comedic insights, Denise Tyrell plays long-time patron and major donor Dolores, who also has a surprise or two for the theater staff.

Award-winning set designer Nina Ball keeps the action moving with Shotgun’s new revolving stage.

“Best Available” runs through June 16 at Shotgun Players, 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. For tickets, call 510-841-6500, x303 or go to shotgunplayers.org.

Oakland: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and tragic death certainly affected me as a teenager in the ’60s — such an incredible human being and visionary, who fought so courageously for racial equality. I still remember the sadness and fear I felt on April 4, 1968, driving through San Francisco neighborhoods as news of his assassination fueled violent reactions.

Oakland Theater Project brings back the power of King’s words and their importance to the issues we face today with the world premiere of “Ghost of King” June 6-23.

Created by and featuring Michael Wayne Turner III, “Ghost of King” brings this historical figure out of the past and allows him speak to today’s audience — proof of how King’s words are still relevant in 2024.

Turner not only presents the entirety of King’s last sermon, but also weaves together an original character and writing to explore King’s views for current audiences.

“To hear these words, not only in the context of the entire speech, but in the voice and presence of a resurrected MLK is to feel elevated into a consciousness willing to tackle the insurmountable crises of our time with radical and transformative love,” said OTP Co-Artistic Director Michael Socrates Moran. “There is something sublime about taking something so simple — a speech by a canonized figure we all think we know — and resurrecting him from the canon so that his words no longer belong to the past but live in front of us — sweating, breathing, bellowing — as an impassioned warning, a heeding and a pleading for our present.”

Performances take place at the Oakland Theater Project at FLAX art & design, 1501 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. For more information, call 510-646-1126 or go to oaklandtheaterproject.org.

Circus in Oakland: All the fun and amazement of Circus Bella returns to the East Bay for two free performances. Known as the circus overflowing with heart and soul, this is the company’s 15th season providing free entertainment to kids of all ages in the parks around the Bay Area.

Featuring talent from the Bay and beyond, the circus includes a diverse troupe of talented acrobats, aerialists, jugglers and clowns, all performing to the live original music of accordionist Rob Reich and the six-piece Circus Bella band.

Directed by Circus Bella founder and trapeze artist Abigail Munn, the circus performs June 5 at DeFremery Park, 1651 Adeline St. West Oakland, at 5:30 p.m. and July 11 at Lincoln Square Park, 261 11th St., Oakland.

Seating is not provided, and audience members are encouraged to bring blankets and small folding chairs. For more information, call 415-480-4239 or go to circusbella.org.

Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.